Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, To Rashmika Mandanna: Celebs Who Fell Victims To Deepfake Videos And Photos

Deepfake technology has created havoc on social media and among the Bollywood divas, stirring concerns about privacy and misinformation. Rashmika Mandanna, Alia Bhatt, Kajol and numerous others have unfortunately faced the brunt of this digital manipulation. Many have raised concern about misuse of technology, particularly advanced AI models and deepfakes.

Let's understand the concept behind deepfakes and who all fell victim to the technology and how.

Deepfake refers to a technique that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to create or manipulate videos, images, or audio recordings to make them seem genuine but are actually fabricated. This technology can morph existing images or videos onto others, allowing for highly convincing but entirely fictional content. The proliferation of deepfake videos has ensnared yet another celebrity, this time drawing Alia Bhatt into the mix. It showcases a woman embodying her face, engaged in inappropriate behaviour on the camera. 

Earlier instances targeted Rashmika Mandanna, Kajol, Katrina Kaif, and Sara Tendulkar, raising alarms about the unethical use of AI. ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt Falls Prey To DeepFake After Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif; Obscene Video Surfaces Online

Rashmika Mandanna

On November 6, a manipulated video of Rashmika Mandanna surfaced online. The video depicted a woman, resembling the Animal actress, in a black swimsuit entering a lift. However, after extensive scrutiny, social media users confirmed it was a deepfake featuring British actor Zara Patel.

Reacting to the same, Rashmika took to her social media and wrote, "I feel really hurt to share this and have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online. Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused."

"Today, as a woman and as an actor, I am thankful for my family, friends and well wishers who are my protection and support system. But if this happened to me when I was in school or college, I genuinely can’t imagine how could I ever tackle this. We need to address this as a community and with urgency before more of us are affected by such identity theft," Rashmika added, tagging the official X accounts of Cyberabad Police and Maharashtra Cyber.

Kajol

A video featuring Kajol changing her clothes went viral on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. However, it has been confirmed that the individual depicted in the video is not the actress Kajol but rather a social media influencer. The emergence of this video added to the ongoing concerns surrounding deepfake content.

BOOM, a fact-checking platform, identified the original video as featuring a social media influencer. Kajol's face was digitally manipulated into the video. The original video was reportedly uploaded on TikTok as part of the "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) trend.

Katrina Kaif

An altered image of Katrina Kaif from her film 'Tiger 3' showcasing a modified scene where she's fighting a Hollywood stuntwoman in a towel surfaced online a few days ago. In the edited version Katrina in a low-cut white top and matching bottom was seen performing the stunt.

Sara Tendulkar

Sara Tendulkar, daughter of Sachin Tendulkar addressed concerns about the misuse of technology and the emergence of fake accounts using her name on social media platforms. In many of the altered pictures, she is seen poising with Shubman Gill. Soon after such photos went viral, Sara in an Instagram Post, wrote, "Social media is a wonderful space for all of us to share our joys, sorrows and daily activities. However, it is disconcerting to see the misuse of technology as it takes away from the truth and authenticity of the internet. I have come across some deepfake photos of me which are far from reality."

"Entertainment should never come at the expense of the truth. Let's encourage communication that’s based on trust and reality," Sara concluded her statement.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the grave threat posed by deepfakes to India, acknowledging their potential to create societal chaos. He urged the media to play a pivotal role in educating the public about the risks associated with deepfake technology.

ALSO READ: Ranbir Kapoor-Rashmika Mandanna BREAK Silence On Animal Runtime; Film Rated 18 by British Censor